Dr. J.J. Sandra Kooij, MD, PhD
PsyQ, psycho-medical programs, Program and Expertise Center Adult ADHD, The Hague, The Netherlands
Sandra Kooij started as a psychiatrist in 1995 with the development of diagnostic assessment, treatment and research in the field of adult ADHD in the Netherlands. In 2006 she received her PhD on a thesis entitled ‘ADHD in adults. Clinical studies on Assessment and Treatment’. She is involved in research, treating patients, training professionals, informing the public, publishing books, articles, and websites.
National tasks and positions
· From 2002 – 2012 she was head of Program Adult ADHD at PsyQ, psycho-medical programs. PsyQ has 9 specialised Programs for mental health disorders. Program Adult ADHD in the Hague currently treats 1300 adult ADHD patients with comorbidity by a specialised multidisciplinary team.
· She is Program leader of the Adult ADHD Program of PsyQ in the Netherlands, that serves to teach and support the 28 locations of PsyQ in the Netherlands that each have a specialised Adult ADHD Program (www.psyq.nl).
· Since 2002 she is head of the Dutch Expertise Center Adult ADHD at PsyQ, that develops, distributes and implements new knowledge about ADHD in adults in mental health care in the Netherlands and abroad. The knowledge is distributed by scientific and popular publications, education programs, leaflets, websites and films (www.kenniscentrumadhdbijvolwasssenen.nl). In 2008 and in 2013, Program and Expertise Center Adult ADHD received the TOP Mental Health (TOPGGz) award, for excellent patientcare, education and research (www.topggz.nl).
· Initiator in 1998 and chair until 2011 of the Dutch ‘Network Adult ADHD’, called ADHD Network since the fusion with pediatricians and child psychiatrists. This Network counts over 750 professionals involved in diagnostic assessment and treatment of children and adults with ADHD in the Netherlands (www.adhdnetwerk.nl).
· Chair of the Guideline committee on Adult ADHD of the Dutch organisation of Psychiatry.
· Initiator of ADHDFund, an international online crowdfund for patient oriented and patient driven research on ADHD (www.adhdfund.com)(starts in 2014)
· Member of the committee on driving issues of the Dutch organisation of Psychiatry that advises the government about use of stimulants in traffic in adults with ADHD.
· Chair of the expertise group of the Dutch organisation of psychiatry that developed online education on adult ADHD for residents in psychiatry.
International tasks and positions
· In 2003, she started the coordination of the ‘European Network Adult ADHD’, in which now 24 countries take part. The progress of the European Network can be followed at www.eunetworkadultadhd.com . The European Network organised her first international congress in London, sept 2011 in cooperation with UKAAN, the English adult ADHD Network. In februay 2013 the next international symposium took place in Tel Aviv, in cooperation with APSARD, the American Psychiatric Association of ADHD and related Disorders. Next meeting will be in London again in September 2014.
· Initiator and chair of the international DIVA Foundation that distributes free of charge, online translations of the Dutch Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA 2.0, Kooij & Frankcen 2009), that is currently translated in 14 languages (www.divacenter.eu). In 2012, the DIVA 2.0 App was launched via App and Google Play store.
· Boardmember of the ADHD Report.
· Boardmember of APSARD, the American Psychiatric Society on ADHD and Related Disorders
· Boardmember of the Journal 'Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder'.
Current research topics
· Ongoing epidemiological study on ADHD in older adults in cooperation with VUMc /LASA study group Amsterdam.
· Ongoing research on the relationship between ADHD, sleep, circadian rhythm, mood, weight, metabolic syndrome and general health, partly in cooperation with the NESDA study group of VUMc Amsterdam.
· ADHD and lifestyle: sexual problems and disorders, driving history and driving skills, and smoking behaviour.
· Genetics of ADHD in cooperation with VUMc Amsterdam and Radboud University Nijmegen
Publications on adult ADHD
Over 100 publications, bookchapters, posters and abstracts, 7 books on adult ADHD, editor of an e-newsletter on adult ADHD and 3 educational films for patients and professionals.
Latest scientific publications:
· Michielsen M, Comijs HC, Aartsen MJ, Semeijn EJ, Beekman AT, Deeg DJ, Kooij
JJ. The Relationships Between ADHD and Social Functioning and Participation in
Older Adults in a Population-Based Study. J Atten Disord. 2013 Dec 30.
· Kooij JJ, Bijlenga D. The circadian rhythm in adult attention-deficit/ hyperactivity
disorder: current state of affairs. Expert Rev Neurother. 2013 Oct;13(10):1107-
16.
· Bijlenga D, Van Someren EJ, Gruber R, Bron TI, Kruithof IF, Spanbroek EC,
Kooij JJ. Body temperature, activity and melatonin profiles in adults with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and delayed sleep: a case-control study.
J Sleep Res. 2013 Dec;22(6):607-16.
· Semeijn EJ, Kooij JJ, Comijs HC, Michielsen M, Deeg DJ, Beekman AT.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, physical health, and lifestyle in older
adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2013 Jun;61(6):882-7.
· Kooij JJ, Rösler M, Philipsen A, Wächter S, Dejonckheere J, van der Kolk A,
van Agthoven M, Schäuble B. Predictors and impact of non-adherence in adults
with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder receiving OROS methylphenidate:
results from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2013 Jan
24;13:36.
· Michielsen M, Semeijn E, Comijs HC, van de Ven P, Beekman AT, Deeg DJ, Kooij
JJ. Prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in older adults in The
Netherlands. Br J Psychiatry. 2012 Oct;201(4):298-305.
· Kooij JJ, Huss M, Asherson P, Akehurst R, Beusterien K, French A, Sasané R,
Hodgkins P. Distinguishing Comorbidity and Successful Management of Adult
ADHD. J Atten Disord. 2012 Apr 12.
· Kooij JJS et al. European consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of
adult ADHD: the European Network adult ADHD. BMC Psychiatry 2010, 10:67. 3 september 2010. Free online access at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471- 244X/10/67.
· Kooij, JJS. Adult ADHD. Assessment and Treatment. 3rd ed., Springer, 2012.
· Van Veen, MM, Kooij JJS et al. Delayed circadian rhythm in adults with ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia. Biological Psychiatry, 2010, Jun 1;67(11):1091-6.